Hailing from Malaysia, Phlox is a psychedelic prog rock quartet with fantastic retro aesthetic. On their debut record, Quiver, the group channels the laidback, spacey vibe of 1970s rock into calming and adventurous tunes. Consciously (or not) taking a page from artists like Nektar, Hawkwind, and Pink Floyd (especially the Meddle era), the record is a short but sweet affair full of superb auditory cohesion.

Like many albums in the genres, Quiver features a single track broken into multiple parts. "Quiver (Part One)" sets the stage with sonic madness, droning guitar chords, and a touch of synthesized accompaniment. The second part appears in the middle of the sequence and reinterprets melodies while adding vocals. Finally, the third part concludes the record by giving the familiar sounds more of a heavy, epic quality. Oddly, the trilogy also features a guitar arpeggio that's eerily similar to Phideaux's "Abducted," which could just be a coincidence, of course. Overall, it's a clever and satisfying way to give the album more ambition and weight.

Beyond that, "Speak to Me" (a reference to Dark side of the Moon?) is soothing and catchy, "High & Low" adds a bit of complexity to the soundscape, and "Where You Go" is an affective track with guitar work that resembles 1980s greats like the Smiths and the Chameleons [UK]. Two short, acoustic guitar-focused instrumentals, "Bring Me There" and "Morning Dreams," feature some very uplifting timbres, and the rest of the album is equally enjoyable.

Quiver may not be very groundbreaking or diverse (all the tracks sound significantly alike, which, subjectively, could be considered endearing or limiting), but it does capture a certain production and songwriting style exceptionally well. If you long for the days of atmospheric, psychedelic rock with a touch of trickiness, Phlox will likely fulfill your need.

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